Fishermen pay hundreds after fishing at Te Angiangi marine reserve

Two fishermen from Havelock North have each paid $750 after pleading guilty to illegally fishing at Te Angiangi Marine Reserve. Photo/File

Two Hawke's Bay men have had to cough up hundreds of dollars after pleading guilty to fishing in the Te Angiangi Marine Reserve.

Late last year the Department of Conservation (DoC) brought charges against seven people for fishing illegally, and the Havelock North pair are the most recent to plead guilty.

They were offered diversion and have each paid $750 in restitution.

At the time DoC Hawke's Bay operations manager Connie Norgate said she was frustrated over the sharp increase of alleged poaching cases.

Having seven cases of illegal fishing in Te Angiangi Marine Reserve before the courts at the same time was especially high for one of the smaller reserves under DoC's care, she said.

"Marine reserves are fully protected areas. They help the ecosystems within them return to their former glory. "

She said DoC ensured adequate signage was in place at marine reserves to alert the public to rules and regulations and said Te Angiangi Marine Reserve, between Blackhead and Aramoana beaches, was patrolled regularly by local rangers.

All seven offenders were charged under either the Marine Reserves Act or Fisheries Act, with penalties for taking marine life from a marine reserve including up to three months in prison, fines of up to $10,000 and possible forfeiture of boats and fishing equipment.

Anyone who spots suspicious activity in a marine reserve, including the removal of fish or shellfish, should call the 24-hour DoC emergency hotline 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).